Means for treating cloth



Oct. 8, 1940. H. A. WOODHEAD MEANS FOR TREATING CLOTH Filed Aug. 29, 1939 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 no wA mE W M Oct. 8, 3940- H. A. WOODHEAD MEANS FOR TREATING CLOTH Filed Aug. 29, 1939 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ot. s, 1940. A WOODHEAD 2,217,534

MEANS FOR TREATING CLOTH Filed Aug: 29, 1939 e Sheets-Sheet a Isnncntor:

HENRY AWOODHEAD CIHomeg H. A. WOODHEAD MEANS FOR TREATING CLOTH -Oct. 8. 1940.

6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Aug. 29, 1939 Q filHllllflllIllll Snnenfor: HENRY A. W D A Q attorney Oct. 8. 1940. HA. WOODHEAD' 2,217,534

MEANS FOR TREATING CLOTH Filed Aug. 29, 1939. 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 3nnentor2 HEAD attorney HENRY/4.WO0D

- Oct. 8. 1940.

H. A. WOODHEAD usuis FOR TREATING cpo'ru Filed Aug. 29, 1939 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 v EI-H. Ll

Q 5 3 g 1 E ul I mm x.

I lhweitor HEnRv/lwaoonsno It i Gttorneg Patented Oct. 8, 1940 "U ITED- sT T s PATENT 1 OF I E" i i v mA QS FJEQG cLo'rn I m fimflzfiz i l 2392392 13 Claims.

This invention relates .to cloth treating and more especially to a. method and means for subjecting cloth or other sheet material to the action of certain fluids while in an open width.

Although the present apparatus is capable of being employed in many difierent capacities, such asdyeing, bleaching and the like, it will be described in the following specification in connection with what is known as the boi l of!" stage in the treatment of cloth. 7 During this stage, the cloth is conditioned for bleaching and dyeing, these steps being performed in subsequent operations. In the preparation of these goods in open width there are several essential requiremerits, among which are that the goods be exposed to the treating fluid for a suificient length of time, while in an open width, and that the goods undergoing such treatment, shall be free from wrinkles and creases. Heretofore, lclers have been employed for boiling oif cloth not in open width. This is objectionable in that creases and wrinkles in the cloth, while being treated, cause uneven treatment. Jigs have also been employed for treating cloth in open width, but this method is slow and cumbersome.

In the jig process the cloth was unwound from one roll and drawn through a suitable solution and wound again upon another roll. Upon the second roll becoming filled, the direction of the cloth was reversed through the fluid and again wound upon the first roll. This operation was repeated until the cloth was sufllciently treated with the solution. The defect in this type of cloth treating apparatus is obvious since it is impossible to carry on a continuous process due to the fact that when the cloth had been sufllciently treated the rolls had to be removed and other rolls inserted in their place.

The treatment of kiers has been objectionable due to the fact that it is impossible to carry on a continuous process. Also since it is necessary to treat the cloth in rope form, the cloth at the crease lines is subjected to more pressure than at other points, resulting in the uneven absorption of dye in subsequent processes. These crease lines are hard to remove in subsequent operations. The marks due to the excess'treatment of fiuids'at certain points inthe cloth often remain despite the fact that the crease mayjbe entirely removed. Therefore, it might be generally stated that the means and m'ethodsus'edheretofore were seriously limited'in capacity; they did not perform a continuous operation andan unusually large amount of floor space was occupied.

It is, therefore, an' object of this invention to provide an apparatus andmethod which will overcome the above mentioned difliculties heretoi'ore encountered. The present apparatus is designed to .treat material more rapidly and thoroughly. Also due to its construction, a mini- 5 mum amount of labor, power and floor space is necessary, with the added advantage of having a practically continuous operation in treating or cloth. I

an apparatus for subjecting sheet material to fluids comprising a tank with a plurality of parallel pairs of rolls disposed thereover and having a portion of their peripheries normally immersed in the fluid, means for winding a. sheet material 15 on the front roll of the first pair while another sheetis being unwound from the adjacent rear roll of the first pair onto the front roll of the second pair andmeans for exchanging positions of the back and. front rolls of each pair when 20 the front roll becomes full and the rear roll becomes empty.

It is a further object of the invention to provide in a cloth treating apparatus, a plurality of sets of two rolls in each set, with means for posig5 tively controlling the unwinding of the cloth from one of each set of rolls and for frictionally driving the roll onto which the cloth is being wound. Some of the objects of'the invention having been stated, other objects will appear as the de- 39 scription proceeds when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a side elevation of the improved cloth treating apparatus;

Figure 2 is a plan view taken along the line 35 2-2 in Figure 1;

Figure 2a is a view taken along line ZaF-Za'in Figure 2;

. Figure 3 is an end elevation taken along the line 3-3 in Figure 1; Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 4-4 in Figure 1, showing the reel-on beam or roll connection; v g

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 5-5 in Figure 1 showing the reel-ofl beam or roll connection;

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 6-4 in Figure '1, showing another'reelon beam or roll connection; a I

Figure '7 is a detail view clone and or a'roll or 0 beam supporting bar showing' it in a. position shortlyaiter the exchanging of the positions or the -front and rear rolls has Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure '7 but showing the bar in a iarther advanced position:

It is another object of this invention to provide 1 Figure 9 is a view similar to Figures 7 and 8 but showing the bar in a still farther advanced position;

Figure 10 is a schematic view showing various operations through which the cloth is subjected during the boiling 01! stage;

Figure 11 is a view similar to the central portion of Figure 10, but showing the beams in an exchanged position;

Figure 12 is a schematic view showing the beam layout when several pairs of beams are employed;

Figure 13 is a plan view similar to Figure 2 but showing a slightly modified form of the invention;

Figure 14 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line l4-l4 in Figure 13.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, the numeral l denotes the floor of a mill build ing having an opening ll therein, (Figure 10). Below the floor I 9 is usually disposed a grey room in which cloth l2 is'stored in bolts which are sewed together at their ends for forming a continuous length and from these bolts the cloth is drawn upwardly through the opening II in open width over suitable sky rolls l3, tension rolls l4 and I5, and another sky roll l6. From the sky roll [6 the cloth i2 is passed downwardly in open width beneath roll I! and then horizontally over a singeing apparatus l8 and beneath another roll l9. Burners may be provided whereby this singeing apparatus may singe one side or both sides of the cloth, as desired. The cloth then travels upwardly between nip rolls 20 and 2| after which, it is allowed to fall downwardly into scray 22. In the scray, the cloth is allowed to accumulate in substantial quantities so that the subsequent mechanism will not have to be exactly timed with the mechanism just described. In other words, the subsequent machinery can run slightly faster or slower than the machinery just described or the subsequent mechanism can be stopped for a short period of time and then started again without disturbing the parts enumerated by'the reference characters II to 22 inelusive.

The cloth I2 is adapted to be drawn upwardly from the scray over sky rolls 23 and 24 from whence it passes downwardly under a roll 25 then upwardly over a roll 26, again downwardly beneath a roll 21 and then upwardly between pad rolls 28 and 29. The rolls 25, 21, and 39 are immersed in a chemical bath in a vat 32 where it is treated with a liquid bath 33 of chemicals or dyestuffs or any other desired substances. The cloth after leaving pad rolls 28 and 29, passes downwardly beneath a roll 30 and then upwardly between the upper side of the roll 29 and below a roll 3|. The rolls 25 to 3|, cooperating with vat 32 mrnish the necessary chemicals to the cloth and impregnate the water in vat 58 with the desired chemicals. The rolls 25 to 3! thoroughly impregnate the cloth with the chemicals in vat 32 and give a regulated amount of the chemicals in the cloth. Each time a set of rolls in the units in vat 53 are exchanged, a measured amount of water is admitted to vat 58 through pipe 59.

From the top of the pad roll 3| the cloth I2 is wound onto a beam or roll 36, said beam having its lower periphery partially immersed in a solution 31 of vat 38. Beam 36 is connected to another beam 39 by means of suitable longitudinal bars 40. The beams 36 and 39 comprise unit 43. It will be noted by observing Figure 2 that the beams 36 and 39 have suitable lug angles 4| welded to the periphery thereof. The upstanding leg of each of these angles has a suitable notch therein into which an end of the cloth I2 is placed and a suitable knot l2a is tied in the cloth at a point beyond the angle so that any tension applied to the cloth will be exerted upon the knot and the knot in turn will be pulled against the side of the upstanding leg of the angle 4|. Simultaneously with the winding of the cloth l2 upon the beam 36 of the first unit 43 a second layer or sheet of cloth 44 is being unwound from the rear beam 39 of unit 43 upon the forward beam 36 of a second unit 45. The units 43 and 45 are identical and like reference characters will apply to like parts. The manner in which the ends of the layer of cloth 44 are connected to the beams 39 and 36 is identical to that method of securing the end of layer l2 to the beam 36 of the first unit 43. Also at the same time, the cloth is being wound upon the forward roll 36 of unit 45, a third sheet of cloth 4'! is being unwound from the rear roll 39 of unit 45 from whence it passes into a washing mechanism. It is evident that as many pairs as desired could be used in carrying out this process. Figure 12 schematir cally shows an arrangement where several additicnal pairs of rolls are employed. Of course, the addition of each pair would necessitate an additional length or cloth and the number of pairs used would be determined primarily by the length of time it is desired to keep the cloth in the solution and the production desired by the machine. When the cloth passes from the rear roll 39 of unit 45 and out of the vat or tank 39, it is then necessary to sew the various lengths together to again make the cloth into a continuous sheet. This sewing process is carried out by a sewing apparatus which is schematically shown and designated by the reference character 48 in Figures 1 and 10. After sewing the ends of;

'layers of cloth together, the cloth then passes beneath nip rolls 5!! and 5|, thence downwardly beneath rolls 52 to wash box 53. This box contains a suitable solution 54 for washing the cloth after it has been treated with a solution 31 in vat 38. The cloth then passes upwardly over a roll 55 and then downwardly into the solution 54 beneath another roll 52. This zig-zag course of the cloth is repeated until it has been washed a sufllcient amount.

The cloth l2 enters the vat 38 and is wound onto the forward roll or beam of unit 43. When it has built up a predetermined amount upon this forward roll or beam 36, the cloth is then severed adjacent the roll. The winding of the beams is so arranged that when this beam 36 of the first unit 43 has become full, the rear beam 39 of the same unit will have become empty. Also, when the beam 39 of unit 43 becomes empty, the forward beam 35 of the second unit will become full and the rear beam 39 of the second unit 45 will have become empty. Upon the severing of the cloth l2 and upon the release of the trailing ends of the layers of cloth 44 and 41 from the rear beam 39 of the first unit 43, and the rear beam 39 of unit 45, respectively, the units 43 and 45 will be capsized, that is, the beams 39 and 36 will exchange positions, so that. an empty beam will be in a forward position for the layer of cloth l2 to be wound thereon and the full beams will be positioned in rearmost positions ready to be unwound. I

Figure 11 shows the units in a capsized position, that is, it shows the beams 39 and 36 with their positions reversed. It is here seen that the cloth I2 is being wound from a full beam 36 of the first unit 43 onto an empty adJa-centbeam 39 of the second pair 46. Also the cloth from the trailing beam 36 of the second unit. is being unwound from whence it will pass between the nip rolls 50 and 5|; By providing a process'of this type, the winding and treating of cloth is practically a continuous operation. It is only necessary to stop the machine a few moments so that the trailing ends of the layers of cloth maybe transferred to adjacent beams and so that the units may be capsized so that the full and empty beams will occupy the proper positions for winding and unwinding.

In the treating of cloth, a suitable solution is used in the vat 38, the chemicals for said solution being supplied by vat 32 as heretofore explained,

and it is necessary to employ a suitable heating means such ass. coiled pipe 58 in the bottomof the vat. Also in order to dilute the solution 31 in the vat from time to time a suitable water pipe 59 is provided (Figure 2). It is well known that the cloth prior to passing through the vat 38 has been subjected to a much more concentrated solution than is normally used in the vat? consequently, as the cloth passes through this vat during a treatingprocess, the solution 31 becomes more concentrated, and-therefore it is necessary to introduce a solution such as water to dilute the same from time to time. T

Especial attention is called to the arrangement of the rolls within the vat 38. It will be noted that either in theposition shown in Figure or in capsized position as shown in Fig-' ure 11, the rolls are very close'together; conse-" quently, the rolls from which the cloth is reeled will at all times be close to the beam upon' which the cloth is placed. This will necessitate only a very short length of cloth betweenthe beams, thereby affording very little chance for wrinkles to be created'in the cloth while passing from one roll to the other.

It is a well known fact that the greater the distance the cloth is drawn in an unsupported manner, the greater the likelihood for creases to occur in the cloth, and therefore when it is wound upon a beam the cloth at the crease line will be bruised or distorted more than the other portions of the cloth. Also by having a short length of cloth between the beams, it is possible to wind the cloth on' another beam in a manner so that the ends of the wound cloth roll will be comparatively smooth and even.

The following paragraphs will be devoted to the'driving mechanism for the beams in the units designated by the reference characters 83 and 45. Byobserving. Figure 1 it will be noted that a sprocket 6| is provided on the end of roller 29. Uponthis sprocket, a chain 62is mounted, which chain also passes over motor sprocket 63 of motor 64. The sprocket chain 62 passes beneath a tightener pulley 65 and around another sprocket 66 (see Figure 4). The sprocket 66 is fixedly secured around a shaft 61, said; shaft having its ends journaled in suitable bearings in the upper ends of supports 68 and 69. The intermediate. portion of the shaft 61 has a disk 10 keyed thereon and thisdisk has a friction. lining H secured-to one face thereof. Also a sleeve 12 is integral with the disk"! and this sleeve: is likewise keyed to the shaft; Slidably keyed upon thesleeve "is a second disk 13 which has a friction lining 14 secured to its inner face. This disk 13 is normally pressed against a gear 15 which is disposed beneath'the linings H and 14 by means of a com pression spring 16, said spring being confined upon the sleeve by means of, a-hut ll. The gear 16 is adapted to mcshxw thanother gear 16 on beam shaft 16. The beam shaft 19 has beam of unit 43 secured to itsintermediate portion-and the end. of this shaft 19alsohas a larger gear 86, fixedly secured thereon. -.The-c1utchassembly, formed by the parts 10 to." inclusive is broadly designated by reference character 8|. The sprocket 66 is driven from the motor-64 and the beam 36, in turn, is driventhrough the slip clutch I 8|. Whenever excessive resistance is;oileredto turning-of the beam 36, the gear 15 will slip be,- tween the clutch linings H. to thereby allowthe sprocket 66 to be driven at a constant speed and the beam 36. to be driven at a variable speed. It is evident that as the sizeof the beam 36 of'unit 43 builds up (see Figure 1), thatthe beam 36 will gradually rotate slower; consequently, a slippage must take place between the constantly driven motor 64 and this variable speedbeamj36. It is to be noted that rolls 28, 29 and 3| are driven in timed relation to the roll 36 in unit 43, hence the proper amount ofchemicals will always .beappliedtothecloth. we

Especial attention is called to the fact that the shafts 18 of each of the rolls 36 and 36 of each unit has the gears 80 and 19 thereon. The rolls, when in right hand position in Figure 1,, are driven by gear '58 engaging the gearllia of the slip clutch mechanism. When the units are capsized the said rolls are driven by their gears 80 en- I gaging gears 9|, thus imparting to the rolls a positive drive. At the same time, theother rolls of each unit are driven by their gears 1.8 engaging the gear 15a of the slip clutch mechanism. This gives a positive drive to the let-oil rolls. and a friction drive to the take-up rolls. The end of the shaft-19, remote'from the end upon which the gears "and 80 are mounted, has

a friction drum 82 and a hand wheel, 83 mounted therein, the function of which will bepresently described, however, it might'be stated that the friction drum 82 is onlyused in case the unit 43 is transferred to theposition now occupiedby unit 45.

,At a pointadjacenteach of the heads of .the

beam 36 and 39, the shaft 191s rotatably mounted in an oval shaped block 81 (Figuresl, 4, 5, and .6) This block 81 is securedato bars 40, said bars being penetrated by shaft 19.. The ovalshaped meme bers 8'I normally: rest upon rails 88.,which are mounted withtheir topsurfaces substantially at the same elevation as'thetop edgeof the vat 38. When the beams 36 and 3 9,are in normal position the lower edges of bars 40 are adaptedtobedisposed upon each side .-,of, the upper portionofthe rails 88, thereby affordingia guiding means .to insure that the beams 36 and 39 will remainon the rails. The top: of -the rails 88 have suitable spaced stops 96 secured thereto, vwhich'are adapted to fit againstxthe remote: ends of 'oval members .61 to thereby hold-the units 43 and 45 in their proper positionsleng'thwise upon the rails.

The trailing'beam 39 of unit,.-43'-(Figures l and 2) is positively driven by" a separate; source of power. 'Figure15shows' a' detailed-viewer the gearing arrangement and the position of-" parts at this point. 'It is here seenthat the larger gear 80 on shaft 19 is adapted to mesh with a pinion 9|, said -pinion being fixedly secured upon a shaft 92 and this shaft has itsends rotatably mounted in housing Y93 and upstanding bearing 94. The last namedgparts are adapted to be supported by a. suitable. framework 95.

This framework 05' also supports the vat '33 as well as other parts to be hereinafter described.

Also mounted upon the shaft 32 and within the housing 33 is a worm gear 35 which meshes with a suitable worm 31 on longitudinally disposed shaft 33. The shaft 35 extends from the housing and is coupled to an intermediate shaft 53, the other end of which is coupled to another shaft 53 in another housing 53. The parts associated with the second housing are identical to that which has been previously described and hence like reference characters will apply. The details of the last-named housing, however, are fully shown in Figures 1 and 6. The mechanism shown in Figure 6 is adapted to drive the forward beam 33 of the unit 45.

It should be kept in mind that the forward beam 36 of the unit 45 in Figure 1 is driven at a variable rate to unwind layer of cloth 44 from the rear beam 35 of unit-43. However, when the units have been capsized, then the-beam 35 of unit 45 will be driven to draw the cloth from the beam 35 of the unit 43 as shownin Figure 11.

Again referring to Figure 6, it is seen that the worm gear 95 within the housing 53 is fixedly secured upon a shaft I05, said shaft having its ends rotatably mounted in housing 33 and in an upstanding bracket I06. The shaft I 05 has a suitable slip clutch mechanism which is broadly designated by the reference character II". The parts in this slip clutch mechanism are identical to the parts shown in the slip clutch mechanism 3| (Figure 4) and operate to drive the forward beam in unit 45 at a variable rate. Therefore, like reference characters will apply to like parts and another description will not be made.

It might be stated, however, that as the forward beam of the unit 45 rotates, the periphery builds up and consequently its R. P. M. must gradually decrease, because the beam 30 of the unit 43, from which the cloth 44 is wound, is driven at a constant speed through the mechanism previously described in connection with Figure 5.

The mechanism incorporated in the lastnamed housing 33 (Figure 6) serves to drive the foremost beam of unit 45 at a variable rate of speed through the slip clutch arrangement I 31; whereas the mechanism in the first-named housing (Figure 5) serves to positively drive the rearmost let-off beam of unit 43 at a constant rate. The rear beam of unit 43 and the foremost beam of unit 45 are driven by a suitable motor I33, said motor having a pulley I upon which is mounted a belt IIII, this belt being also mounted upon another pulley III on the end of shaft H2. The shaft 2 is coupled with the shaft 98 which extends from the adjacent housing 53.

Especial attention is called to the fact that the trailing let-off beam of unit 43 is driven at a constant rate and the forward take-up beam of the unit 45 is driven at a variable speed. Since the slip clutch arrangement III'I is interposed between the housing 93 and the forward takeup beam of the unit 45, this beam will cease to turn when a predetermined resistance has been than the speed of the positively driven let-oi! roll of the foremost unit when winding begins. This will cause the beam of cloth to be more compact near the center of the beam than it is as the diameter increases. thereby creating a very much desired result because there will be very little tendency for the initial convclutions to slip longitudinally of the beam when it is wound in this manner.

As heretofore stated, it is necessary to capsize the units and exchange positions of the beams of each unit when the forward beams become filled and the rear beams become empty. The lifting mechanism for performing this function is clearly shown in Figures 1 and 3. A framework II 5 is provided upon which is mounted longitudinally disposed channel members III. These channel members support bearings II! in which are iou'rnaled the ends of a suitable shaft III. The shaft H3 is driven by a conventional reversible motor, II! with a brake I20 therein. The motor may be operated by a reversing switch if desired. Fixedly secured to the shaft Ill and between the bearings II! are sprockets I2I. Upon these sprockets I2I chains I22 are mounted and the lower end of each of the chains has a hook I23 secured thereto. The other ends of the sprocket chains I22 are anchored as at I25 to the channel members II5.

A suitable tightening device comprising a pulley I21 and a weight I23is mounted upon each chain I22 at a point between the sprocket I2I and the anchoring point I25. This tightening mechanism normally holds the chain upon the sprocket I2I at all times. when the forward beam of unit 43, forexamplc, has become filled and the rear beam has become empty substantially as shown in Figure 1, then the hooks I23 are lowered to a point where they can engage the shaft 19 at a point adjacent the heads of the rear empty beam. It is preferable for these hooks to be secured to the empty rearmost beam so that the empty beam will be uppermost and a minimum amount of weight will have to be lifted. After these hooks are placed in position. the motor III is placed in operation and the unit 43 is lifted, first to the position shown in Figure 'l and then to the position shown in Figure 8, which corresponds to dotted line position shown in Figure 1. It should be noted that a cam I is positioned on rails 33 at a point substantially midway between the beams of each unit. said cams having concave upper surfaces I3I and I32. As the motor lifts the light end of the unit the oval members 31 on the heavy end of the unit will drag first upon the concave surfaces "I in the manner shown in Figure 7 until the unit assumes substantially an upright position as shown in Figure 8. The motor I I5 is then reversed to lower the unit and at this time the oval shaped members 31 will slide downwardly upon the upper side of concave surface I32 and upon further lowering the unit will assume the position as shown in Figures 9 and 11. After the units have been capsized, it is then necessary to connect the trailing ends of the filled beam to the adjacent empty take-up beam and proceed with the winding operation as before. When the units have been capsized, the forward beam of each unit will be driven at a variable rate of speed, whereas the trailing beam of the forward unit will be let ofi at a positive rate of speed.

The trailing beam of the unit 45 has a friction device I33 mounted over its associated drum 82 (Figures 2 and 2a). This device comprises before it will retard the rotation of the beam. Pins I31 are disposed adjacent the rearmosta pair of brake shoes I34 and I3! pivoted together as at- I35a.' The free'ends' of the. shoes are penetrated by a bolt I38, saidbolt having. a compression spring I36a mounted therearound and being disposed adjacent the free end of shoe I34. -In order to vary the amount of compression in-this spring, and thereby vary the friction between the shoes and the drum 82, a wing nut I36b is threadably secured on bolt I36. A pin I31 extends from rail 88: into the path of the free end of-brake shoe I34 so that when the trailing beam of'unit 45 begins to rotate'the brake shoes will be held stationary. This friction device is only used on the trailing beam of unit 45;. however, a similar device is shown in the forward beam of this same unit so that when theunit is fiipped, a friction device will be in the, proper position for restraining the let-off of the cloth.

The frictiondevice I33 is omitted from the drums 82 of the foremost unit 49 because it is only when a unit is operating where theunit'45 is shown that it is necessary to have these devices.- Neither is it necessary to have friction drums '82 in'connection with the forward unit 33, but in order to make units 43 and 45 interchangeable, these drums are provided. In case the units were interchanged it would be necessary to add friction devices to their drums 82.

Figure 12 is a schematic view showing a very much larger vat and a greater number of beam units for carrying out the same process. showing is made merely to illustrate, that the length ofthe vat and the number of the beam units may vary to suit aiparticular condition. The driving mechanism, the principle employed in capsizing and reversing the beam-units, end

for end as well as for positively driving the letoiT beam of one unit and driving the reel-on beam of another unit at a variable rate, is essentially the same as in the precedingform. In this form a vat I38 isshownwith the units 43 and 45 disposed at each end thereof. Additional units I39 and I 40 are disposed between the units 43 and 45. Cloth is wound successively from one unit on to the adjacent unituntil it progresses the entire length of-the vat.

Figures 13 and 14 show a slightly modified form of the invention in which like reference characters will apply to like parts, but a description will be made of the parts differing from that of the form shown in Figures 1 to 11 inclusive.

In this form of the invention, the units 43a and 85a are provided. The leading unit 430 is driven from the motor 64 by way of sprocket I 4I said sprocket being fixedly secured upon a shaft I42. This shaft has a slip clutch I43 secured therein, the details of which are identical in all respects to the slip clutch arrangements BI and III], which are shown'and described in connection with the preceding form and which are shown in Figures 4 and 6. The slip clutch arrangement I43 has an intermediate gear 15 meshing with a gear I44 on the end of shaft 19 of the unit 43a. The trailing beam'of the unit 43-is identicalto that 'of the forward beam and'the gear I44 on its corresponding shaft I9 remains-inactive while it-is in rearmost position. IHoweverQwhen it is capsized, it will mesh with the gear 15 of the slip clutch arrangement I43. Bars 40 are used to connect the foremostand rearmost beams of the units 430. and 45a. Each of the beams of the units 43a and 45a are adapted-to have a friction device I33- associated-therewith; however, the

"I5 friction device must be adjacent astop pin I91 This beams of each unit.

The foremost beam-in the unit 45a is identical to theother beams and its gear I44 is adapted to mesh with a pinion I49 therebelow. The I pinion I49 is fixedly secured upon a shaft I50, said shaft having its ends rotatably mounted in housingI5I and upright I52. The shaft I50 also has-mounted thereon and within housing I5I is a suitable worm gear I54 and this worm gear meshes with a worm I55 which is disposed upon a shaft I56.. The shaft I56 extends to the exterior of the housing as shown in Figure 13 and is shown coupled to a shaft I58 which furnishes the driving power for rotating the take-up beam on the unit 45a. In this form of the invention, the foremost take-up beam ofv the-rear unit 45a is positively driven, whereas the leteofi' beamof the forward unit 430 is-caused to rotate to correspond-with the surface speed of the pick-up beam through the connecting .layer of cloth .44. The method of securing the ends of the fabric to the beam is identical to that shown in themeceding case. The rearmost beam of the rear unit 45a has a friction let-off similar in-all respects to the friction let-off used in conjunction with the rearmost beam of unit 33a which has just been described.

While in many instances, itis desirable to use an arrangement of this sort'for carrying out a continuous cloth treating process, it is not considered as the preferred form of the invention simply. because the friction applied to the let-ofl beamremains constant throughout the unwindingof the same; consequently, the greater the diameter of the reel on thebeam, the. greater the tension in the layer of cloth, and the tighter the beam will be wound, This results in the tial that an even number of units be provided. I

Otherwise, if an odd number of units is used the sections of cloth will be reversed, end for end, and therefore the first end of each section to enter'the vat will be'the last end to leave it.

In the drawings and specification there has been set forth a preferred embodiment 'of the invention-and although specific terms have been employed, they are used Jina generic and de- 'scriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being set forth in the appended claims;

1. Apparatus for subjectinga plurality of sheets of material to the action of a fluid comprising a vat for holding said fluid, with a plurality of connected parallel pairs of rollers mounted thereon, means for winding one sheet of material on the front roll of the first pair, means for simultaneouslyun'winding a second sheet from the adjacent back roll of the first pair and ontothe front roll' of the second pair, and means forexchanging the. positions of the back and .front rolls of each pair, when the front rolls become full and the back rolls become empty.

2. Cloth treating apparatus for subjecting sheets of cloth to fluids, comprising a vat, a framework disposed above said vat, and a pair of rolls rotatably mounted in the framework, means for winding a sheet of material upon one roll, means for simultaneously unwinding another sheet of material from the other roll, and means for capsizing said framework: in said rolls when the first-named roll-becomes full and the other roll becomes empty to cause said rolls to ex change positions.

3. Apparatus for subjecting sheets of material to fluids comprising a vat, a reel-on roll and a reel-off roll, disposed above said tank, means for positively driving said reel-on roll at a constant speed and means for driving said reel-on roll to cause the sheet material to be wound thereon from the reel-oil roll, and a slip clutch disposed between the reel-on roll and its corresponding driving means whereby the surface speed of the reel-on roll can be maintained substantially the same as the surface speed of the positively driven reel-off roll.

4. Apparatus for treating cloth comprising able member, means for frictionally driving one of the rolls of each unit, means for positively driving the other of the rolls of each unit, means for capsizing the units of rolls and thus causing one end of the members connecting the axes of the rolls to move along the tracks to reverse the position of the rolls of each unit with respect to the vat, and means on the axes of each roll for engaging said driving means when the rolls are in operative position.

5. Apparatus for subjecting cloth to a liquid treating agent, comprising a rectangular vat for holding the liquid, a plurality of pairs of mils mounted for rotation in the vat. a trackway dis-'- posed along each of the upper side edges of the vat, members connecting the axes of each pair of rolls together, driving means for imparting rotation to the rolls of each unit, means for raising one of therolls of aunit'to capsize the unit to cause the rolls to be in superposed relation, and means on the trackway for guiding the lower ends of the membersconnecting the rolls so that when the uppermost roliis lowered, it will complete its movement-to occupy the position formerly occupied by the lowermost roll to thereby reverse the positions of the rolls in the vat, and whereby the reversed rolls will automatically engage said driving means.

6. Apparatus for subjecting cloth to a liquid bath while winding the same from one roll to another comprising a vat, a plurality of pairs of rolls mounted for rotation along the upper edge of the vat so that a portion of the cloth in the rolls will be submerged in the liquid in the vat, a frame member at each end of the rolls connecting the pairs of rolls together for rotation in spaced relation, means disposed along one of the side walls of the vat for driving the rolls, means on the end of each of the rolls for engaging said driving means, a trackway disan elongated vat, a pair of parallel tracksdisposed along the upper edges of the side walls of the asmsss lifting one of'the rolls to cause the other roll to move rearwardiy of the vat along the track- 'way until the rolls are in superposed relation and means on the trackway'and said members for guiding the lowermost roll rearwardly to cause the uppermost roll whenlowered to continue its movement to-occupy the position formerly occupied by the-lowermost roll to thereby reverse the position of the units of each roll with relation to the ends of the vat, and means on the axis of each roll for engaging said driving means. I

- 7. Apparatus for simultaneously subjecting a plurality of sheets of material to the action of a fluidcomprisingan elongated tank for holding the fluid, aplurality of pairs of rolls mounted on the upper edge of the vat, a trackway for supporting said rolls, a member disposed on each end of the rollsand rotatably connecting the axes of each pair of, rolls together, means for driving the rolls of each pair. to wind the cloth from one, roll onto another ,roll,.and means for reversing'the positiofnof the rolls of each pair in Y the vat'whenfthe' material has'been wound from 'oneroll onto the otheriof a pair.

.8. Apparatusj'ffor v-,s1.ib:jectlng a plurality of sheets of cloth simultaneously to the action of a bath'of treating materialcomprising an elongated rectangular vat. means for supporting a plurality of-pairsof rolls on the upper edge of theNat, means connecting the pairs of rolls to form a plurality of units of two rolls each, means for driving the] rolls to wind the clothfrom one a roll onto the other and means for reversing the position of the rolls when-the cloth has been wound from one roll to the other and to cause said rolls to engage said driving means, whereby the empty roll can receive a new sheet of material while the full roll can be unwound onto the first roll or the next succeeding pair.

9 Apparatus for subjecting a plurality of sheets'otclothidf a liquid bath, comprising a vat,"a plurality of. pairs} of rolls connected togethe'rii'r'spaced relationnto each otherand mounted .on-theiupper; edge of the vet and having a portion of.; theclothaonlsome of the rolls submergedin the liquid-in the vat, means for i'rictionailyi driving the lfirst roll of each pair, means for positively driving the second roll of each pair, and means'forreversing the position of the rolisof the .pair wlth relation to the ends of the vat. 1 a

10. Apparatus Yfor subjecting a plurality of sheetsof material to the action of a liquid treating bath comprising an elongated rectangular vat, a trackway disposed along the upper edge of each side of the vat, a plurality of rolls, a pinrality of members mounted on each of the trackways and having the axes of adjacent pairs of rolls mounted for rotation therein for holding the rolls in spaced relation, driving means disposed along one side of the vat, a pinion disposed on each end of the rolls for engaging the driving means when the rolls are in operative position, means for raising one end of said members to raise one of the rolls of a unit and to cause the other roll to move forwardly in the vat along the trackway and means on the trackway for guiding the lower ends. of said member when the members areraised ,to-vertical position to cause a the lower end of said members to move farther along the trackway and to cause the lower roll to continue its movement in the same direction as it initially proceeded to thereby reverse the positions of the rolls of each pair and whereby the pinions on the rolls will engage the driving means when the rolls are in reversed position.

11. Apparatus for treating cloth comprising a plurality 01 rolls, a vat ior holding a liquid and in which at least a portion of the rolls are submerged, means for driving the mils whereby the cloth is unwound from one roll onto an adjacent roll, rigid means for connecting the rolls together in pairs, means for raising one end of the rigid connecting means, means for guiding the lower ends of the connecting means longitudinally oi the vat, whereby when the cloth has been wound from the second roll of the first pair to the first roll of the second pair; the pairs can be reversed by raising the empty roll and advancing the hill roll longitudinally of the vat and thereby reversing the position of the rolls so that the full roll will be disposed adjacent an empty roll and can have the cloth wound thereirom onto the empty roll 01' the next succeeding pair while the empty roll of the first pair has cloth wound thereon.

12. Apparatus ior scouring cloth, comprising an elongated vat rectangular in plan, a plurality of pairs of units divided into pairs of rolls, mounted along the upper edge of the vat and projecting into the vat, rigid means slidably supported along the upper side edges of the vat connecting the ends of the rolls together to form a plurality of units of the two rolls each, means iorraising one end of the rigid connecting means and one of the rolls of a pair, means located along one side of the vat for imparting rotation to all of the rolls to wind cloth from one roll to the other, means for guiding the lower end of the rigid means when the front roll of a unit is raised above the rear roll. means for reversing the position of the rolls 0! each, pair by raising one roll of each unit upwardly and over its companion roll whereby said rigid members will direct the first roll of each unit into the position occupied by the second roll of each unit and whereby the second roll of each unit 1 will occupy the position formerly occupied by the first roll oi! each unit, and at the same time the respective rolls will engage the driving means when in reversed position.

13. Apparatus for simultaneously treating a plurality of lengths of cloth comprising a vat, a plurality of pairs 01! rolls mounted in spaced relation in the vat, means for driving the rolls to wind the lengths of cloth from one roll onto the other and means for reversing the position of the rolls oi! each pair to progressively wind the lengths of cloth from one roll to the other in each pair and from one roll of one pair to a roll 01' the next succeeding pair of rolls.

HENRY A. WOODHEAD. 

